System and Method of Providing Media Content

ABSTRACT

A method includes selecting, at a content management computer, a particular content source of a plurality of content sources for media content associated with a media content item requested by a first media device. The particular content source is selected based on a network topology of an access network. The method includes sending a first instruction to the particular content source from the content management computer. The first instruction causes the particular content source to send the media content to the first media device. The method includes, after sending the first instruction, receiving, at the content management computer, a request for the media content item from a second media device. The method also includes sending a second instruction from the content management computer to the first media device. The second instruction causes the first media device to send the media content to the second media device.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation patent application of, and claimspriority from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/235,689, filed onSep. 19, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/716,529, filed on Mar. 9, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,041,643, eachof which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is generally related to systems and methods ofproviding media content.

BACKGROUND

Viewing media content, such as television programs, is a part of dailylife for many people. Advances in technology allow service providers tooffer a wide range of media content, including television programming,video on demand services, network digital video recording services, andother services. Such advances in technology may also allow users toshare media content with other users via their respective set-top boxdevices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of asystem to provide media content;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a system to provide media content;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a first particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content;

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content;

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a third particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a fourth particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a fifth particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content; and

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of ageneral computing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In a particular embodiment, a set-top box device includes a processor, amemory accessible to the processor, a network interface, and a displayinterface. The memory includes a media content access module executableby the processor to apply an access rule to selected media content tolimit access to the selected media content. The network interfacereceives the selected media content from a content source and anassociated access rule from an access rule source. The display interfaceprovides the selected media content to a display device based on theassociated access rule.

In another particular embodiment, a method of providing media contentaccess includes providing a list of available media content to a displaydevice, receiving a selection related to the list of available mediacontent, and sending data related to the selection to a contentmanagement system. The method further includes receiving media contentfrom a content source based on the selection and an access rule relatedto the media content from an access rule source and applying the accessrule to the selected media content, wherein the access rule defines arestriction to limit access to the media content.

In still another particular embodiment, a method of providing mediacontent access includes receiving charge authorization data identifyinga destination device, where the charge authorization data is related toa selection of media content from a list of available media content. Themethod further includes identifying an access rule associated with theselection based on the charge authorization data, where the associatedaccess rule defines a restriction executable at the destination deviceto limit access to media content associated with the selection. Themethod also includes providing the access rule to the destinationdevice.

In another particular embodiment, a method of providing media contentaccess is disclosed that includes authorizing transmission of a firstaccess rule to a destination device that restricts access to selectedmedia content. The method further includes receiving a chargeauthorization related to the selected media content from the destinationdevice and authorizing transmission of a second access rule to thedestination device to restrict access to the selected media content inresponse to receiving the charge authorization.

In yet another particular embodiment, a computer-readable mediumincludes instructions to cause a processor to execute a method ofproviding media content access. The method includes providing a list ofavailable media content to a display device, receiving a selection fromthe list of available media content, and sending data related to theselection to a content source and to an access rule source. The methodfurther includes receiving media content from the content source basedon the selection and an access rule related to the media content fromthe access rule source and applying the access rule to the selectedmedia content, where the access rule defines a restriction for accessingthe media content.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a particular illustrative embodiment of asystem 100 to provide media content. The system 100 includes a set-topbox device 104 that communicates with a content management system 102, acontent source 106, and an access rules source 108 via a network 110.The set-top box device 104 may provide media content, including an audioportion and a video portion, to a display device 112, such as atelevision. The set-top box device 104 may receive input selections froma remote control device 114.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the content source 106 may beanother set-top box device, a content server, or any combinationthereof. The content source 106 includes stored media content and isadapted to provide stored media content to a destination device, such asthe set-top box device 104, via the network 110. In a particularillustrative embodiment, the access rules source 108 may be anotherset-top box device, a rules server, or any combination thereof. Theaccess rules source 108 includes stored access rules and is adapted toprovide the stored access rules to a destination device, such as theset-top box device 104, via the network 110. In an illustrativeembodiment, the network 110 can be an access network of an InternetProtocol Television (IPTV) system.

The content management system 102 includes a processor 120 and a memory118 accessible to the processor 120. In a particular embodiment, thecontent management system 102 can include a network interface 122 thatis responsive to the network 110. The memory 118 may include usage data124, a billing module 126, subscriber data 128, an access rule locator130, a media content locator 132, and a set-top box (STB) selectionmodule 134. In a particular illustrative embodiment, the billing module126 can be executed by the processor 120 to perform various billingfunctions, such as charging a subscriber account. The access rulelocator 130 can be executed by the processor 120 to locate an accessrule from an access rules source, such as the access rules source 108.The media content locator 132 can be executed by the processor 120 tolocate selected media content. The STB selection module 134 can beexecuted by the processor 120 to select a set-top box device from a listof set-top box devices that include the located media content and toinstruct the selected set-top box device to share its media content withanother set-top box device.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the set-top box device 104includes a network interface 140 that is responsive to the network 110.The set-top box device 104 also includes a processor 142 that is coupledto the network interface 140, and a memory 144 that is accessible to theprocessor 142. The set-top box device 104 includes a remote interface146 that is coupled to the processor 142 and that is responsive to inputselections from the remote control device 114. The set-top box device104 includes a display interface 148 that is coupled to the processor142 and that provides audio and video to the display device 112.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the content management system102 may provide a list of available media content to the set-top boxdevice 104. The content management system 102 may receive data from theset-top box device 104 indicating a selection from the list of availablemedia content. The content management system 102 can utilize the mediacontent locator 132 to locate media content related to the selection atthe content source 106, which may be a content server, another set-topbox device, or any combination thereof. The content management system102 can utilize the access rules locator 130 to locate an access rule atthe access rules source 108, which may be an access rules database, anaccess rules server, another set-top box device, or any combinationthereof. The content management system 102 may instruct the identifiedcontent source 106 to provide the selected media content to the set-topbox device 104 and may instruct identified access rules source 108 toprovide an associated access rule to the set-top box device 104. Theassociated access rule may define one or more restrictions to limitaccess to the media content at a destination device, such as the set-topbox 104. The set-top box device 104 may store the media content and theassociated access rule in the media content storage 152 and may utilizethe access rule engine 150 to apply the associated access rule to themedia content to limit access to the media content at the display device112.

In a particular embodiment, the content management system 102 mayenforce the associated access rule by applying a selected access rule tothe media content to produce a limited portion of the media content. Thecontent management system 102 may provide the limited portion to theset-top box device 104.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the associated access rule maydefine one or more restrictions to limit viewing of the media content toa time-limited portion, such as the first few minutes of the mediacontent. In another particular illustrative embodiment, the access rulemay define one or more restrictions to limit viewing of the mediacontent at the destination device (e.g., the second set-top box device104) to one or more randomly selected segments of the media content. Instill another particular embodiment, the access rule may define one ormore restrictions to limit viewing of the media content to an unlimitednumber of viewings within a particular time period (such as withintwenty four hours of the download), to a limited number of viewings(e.g., five viewings), or any combination thereof. In another particularembodiment, the access rule may define one or more restrictions to alterthe video data (e.g., to include a banner or a watermark, to scramblethe video data after a time period has elapsed, to scramble the videodata after displaying the first few minutes of the media content, or anycombination thereof). In yet another particular embodiment, the mediacontent may include a video program and associated data, such ascommentary, reviews, text descriptions, or any combination thereof, andthe associated access rule may define one or more restrictions to limitviewing of the media content to the commentary, the reviews, the textdescriptions, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the limited portion of the selected mediacontent may be provided to the set-top box device 104 with a selectableindicator, which may be selected to trigger authorization of a charge toa subscriber account associated with the set-top box device 104. Thecontent management system 102 may receive data from the set-top boxdevice 104 including a charge authorization and may record a chargerelated to the media content to the usage data 124 or to the subscriberdata 128. With the authorization received, the content management system102 may provide the selected media content in its entirety, along with asecond access rule enabling the subscriber to have access to the entireselected media content. For example, the second access rule may permitthe subscriber to have unlimited access to the selected media contentwithin a pre-defined period of time. Alternatively, the second accessrule may permit the subscriber to access the media content apredetermined number of times, after which the media content may becomeinaccessible.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a user may access a menu or aselectable indicator at the destination device, such as the set-top boxdevice 104, to authorize a charge associated with the media content.Alternatively, the user may call a telephone number associated with thecontent provider to authorize a charge to an account associated with theset-top box device 104. In another embodiment, the user may visit a website associated with the content provider to authorize a charge to anaccount associated with the set-top box device 104.

In a particular embodiment, the content source 106 may be a set-top boxdevice that is adapted to share stored media content with the set-topbox device 104 via the network 110. For instance, the content source 106may be a set-top box device that includes a peer-to-peer module (such asthe peer-to-peer module 222 shown in FIG. 2) to facilitate sharing ofthe media content.

In an embodiment, the content management system 102 may store datarelated to sharing of media content in the usage data 124 and may accessthe billing module 126 to charge a subscriber account associated with adestination device (such as the set-top box 104) for media contentdownloads. Additionally, the content management system 102 may accessthe billing module 126 to credit a subscriber account associated withthe content source 106, if the content source is another set-top boxdevice.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, where a media content selectionis stored at two or more set-top box devices coupled to the network 110,the processor 120 of the content management system 102 may execute theset-top box device (STB) selection module 134 to identify set-top boxdevices that have the media content and to select a set-top box deviceto serve as the content source 106 with respect to the requestingset-top box device. For example, the content management system 102 canselect the content source 106 to share its media content with otherset-top box devices based on one or more factors, such as availablebandwidth, network capacity, load balancing, the particular contentsource's logical or physical proximity to the requesting set-top boxdevice, other factors, or any combination thereof.

In an illustrative embodiment, the content management system 102 mayutilize geographic information and network connectivity information toselectively instruct the content source 106 to share media content withthe set-top box device 104. The content management system 102 maymaintain a list of media content stored at the content management system102 and stored by set-top box devices that communicate via the network110. The content management system 102 may provide the list of availablecontent to the set-top box device 104. The content management system 102may receive data related to a selection from the list of availablecontent from the set-top box device 104. The content management system102 may identify a list of set-top box devices at which the mediacontent related to the data is stored. The content management system 102may select a set-top box device from the list, such as the contentsource 106, and may send a request to the selected set-top box device tosend the media content selection to the set-top box device 104 via thenetwork 110.

In another particular embodiment, if the content management system 102determines that the network distance (e.g., a number of network hops)between the requesting set-top box device and a set-top box device thatstores the selected media content exceeds a predetermined number, thecontent management system 102 may provide the media content directly tothe set-top box device 104. If the network distance is less than thepredetermined number, the content management system 102 may send arequest to the set-top box device that has the media content to serve asthe content source 106 and to share selected media content with therequesting set-top box device. In a particular illustrative,non-limiting embodiment, the content management system 102 may instructset-top box devices associated with the network 110 to provide requestedmedia content in order to improve download speeds, reduce network load,enhance usability, or any combination thereof.

In general, while the content management system 102, the content source106, and the access rules source 108 are shown as separate entities, ina particular embodiment, the content source 106 and the access rulessource 108 may be the same device. In another particular embodiment,another set-top box device may serve as both the content source 106 andthe access rules source 108, providing both the selected media contentand the associated access rule to the requesting set-top box device. Inanother particular illustrative embodiment, the content managementsystem 102 may include the content source 106 and the access rulessource 108. In still another particular embodiment, the contentmanagement system 102 may include the access rules source 108.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a system 200 to provide media content. The system 200 includes acontent management system 202 and a set-top box device 204, which maycommunicate via a network 206. The set-top box device 204 may include anetwork interface 212 that is responsive to the network 206, a processor214 coupled to the network interface 212, and a memory device 216accessible to the processor 214. The memory device 216 may include apeer-to-peer module 222, an access rule engine 224, an access log 226, adigital video recorder (DVR) module 228, and a media content and accessrule storage 230. The set-top box device 204 may receive input from aninput device 208, such as a remote control device, a personal digitalassistant (PDA) device, another input device, or any combinationthereof, via an input interface 220. Additionally, the set-top boxdevice 204 may be coupled to a display device 210 via a displayinterface 218.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the processor 214 may executeinstructions associated with the DVR module 228 to record media contentand associated access rules to the media content and access rule storage230. For example, the set-top box device 204 may provide a DVR menuassociated with the DVR module 228 to the display device 210 and mayreceive a selection related to the DVR menu from the input device 208via the input interface 220. The selection may be related to list ofavailable media content, such as a particular television program. Theset-top box device 204 may send data related to the selection to thecontent management system 202, which may maintain a list of availablemedia content.

In a particular embodiment, the set-top box device 204 may receive alist of available content from the content management system 202. Theset-top box device 204 may send the list of available content to thedisplay device 210. The set-top box device 204 may receive a selectionfrom the list of available content from the input device 208 via theinput interface 220. The set-top box device 204 may send data related tothe selection to the content management system 202. In a particularillustrative embodiment, the content management system 202 may providethe media content and the associated access rule. In another particularillustrative embodiment, the content management system 202 may identifya content source and an access rules source and instruct the identifiedsources to transmit the selected media content and the associated accessrule to the set-top box device 204.

The set-top box device 204 may receive the media content and theassociated access rude via the network 206 and may store the mediacontent and the associated access rule in the media content storage 230.In a particular embodiment, the processor 214 may execute the digitalvideo recorder (DVR) module 228 to store the media content and theassociated access rule in the media content and access rule storage 230.The processor 214 may execute the access rule engine 224 to apply theassociated access rule to the media content to identify a portion of themedia content and to provide the identified portion to the displaydevice 210 via the display interface 218. In a particular illustrativeembodiment, the portion may include a time-limited segment from themedia content, one or more randomly selected segments from the mediacontent, metadata associated with the media content, or a combinationthereof. In a particular embodiment, the media content may includemetadata that includes commentary data, a media content trailer, andratings data associated with the media content.

Additionally, the set-top box device 204 may receive a request from thecontent management system 202 to share stored media content with anotherset-top box device via the network 206. In response to receiving therequest, the set-top box device 204 may utilize the processor 214 toexecute instructions associated with the peer-to-peer module 222. Theset-top box device 204 may retrieve media content related to the requestfrom the media content and access rules storage 230. The set-top boxdevice 204 may send the retrieved media content to a destination devicevia the network 206.

In a particular embodiment, the processor 214 may execute instructionsassociated with the access rules engine 224 to apply the associatedaccess rule to identify a portion of the media content. The processor214 may execute instructions associated with the peer-to-peer module 222to send the portion of the media content to a destination device, suchas another set-top box device, via the network 206. In a secondparticular embodiment, the processor 214 may execute the peer-to peermodule 222 to notify the content management system 202 and to send acopy of the media content to a destination device via the network 206,where the content management system 202 provides the access rule orinstructs an access rules source to provide the access rule to thedestination device. In a third particular embodiment, a user may accessa menu via the set-top box device 204 to customize access rules relatedto particular media content, and the set-top box device 204 can providethe media content and the associated custom access rule to thedestination device. The associated custom access rule may definecustomized access restrictions.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the peer-to-peer module 222 mayinclude instructions executable by the processor 214 to record accessdata to the access log 226. For example, access data may include arecord of media content sent from the set-top box device 204 to theother set-top box device. In an embodiment, the peer-to-peer module 222may provide information from the access log 226 to a billing module ofthe content management system 202 to trigger billing of a subscriberaccount associated with a destination device for the shared mediacontent. In a particular illustrative embodiment, the content managementsystem 202 may be adapted to credit a subscriber account associated withthe set-top box 204 for sharing media content. In a particularillustrative embodiment, the content management system 202 may providean incentive such as a “kickback,” a telecommunications credit, otherreward, or any combination thereof to the subscriber account associatedwith the set-top box device 204. For example, in a particularembodiment, when the subscriber's set-top box device is requested toshare stored media content, the content management system 202 may creditthe subscriber's account with a telecommunications credit, such as anallotment of telecommunications minutes, or other credits.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, access rules may be applied tomedia content to provide a portion of the media content, such as a firstfew minutes of the media content, one or more random selections from themedia content, or another time-limited portion of the media content. Theportion of the media content may allow a user to view a sample or toview information about the media content in order to pique the viewer'sinterest. In another particular illustrative embodiment, the selectedmedia content may be provided in its entirety but the access rules maybe applied to impose a visible indicator within the media content, suchas a visual distortion of the media content, indicating that the dataprovided is a sample. In a particular illustrative example, the accessrule may be applied to insert a watermark, a banner, or other disruptionof the media content (e.g., the term “SAMPLE” may be superimposed overvideo data of the media content at the display device 210). In anotherparticular illustrative embodiment, the access rules may be applied toscramble or distort audio data associated with the media content. A usermay authorize a charge transaction to a subscriber account associatedwith the destination device, and the content management system 202 mayprovide a second access rule to the destination device. The secondaccess rule may be applied to the media content to allow the mediacontent to be displayed without disruption at the destination device.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, a user may view a portion ofselected media content at the display device 210 that is associated withthe set-top box device 204 based on the associated access rule. The usermay access a menu or may select an indicator shown with the mediacontent to authorize payment for the selected media content. The set-topbox 204 may communicate data related to the payment authorization to thecontent management system 202, causing the content management system 202to provide a second access rule to the set-top box device 204 to“unlock” the media content such that the set-top box device 204 providesthe media content to the display device 210 without disrupting the videoor audio display of the media content.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the user may authorize a creditcard charge or a charge to a subscriber account associated with theset-top box device. In a second illustrative embodiment, the subscribermay pay for the media content using telecommunication credits associatedwith the subscriber's account. Alternatively, the subscriber may pay forthe media content with other non-cash credits, such as mile points,rewards credits, pre-paid media minutes, or any combination thereof. Inanother particular illustrative embodiment, a user may pay for mediacontent through an in-kind exchange, such as by authorizing sharing ofmedia content with other subscribers. In this instance, a user mayreceive a download credit for each shared-selection of media content,for every three shared-selections of media content, or for some othernumber of shared-selections.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the content management system202 may maintain a list of media content stored at each set-top boxdevice that communicates via the network. For example, each set-top boxdevice may communicate a list of stored media content to the contentmanagement system 202. The content management system 202 mayperiodically query the set-top box devices, including the set-top boxdevice 204, to update the list of stored media content.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a first particular embodiment of a method ofproviding media content. A set-top box device may provide list ofavailable media content to a display device, at 302. Moving to 304, theset-top box device may receive a selection from the list of availablemedia content. Proceeding to 306, the set-top box device may send datarelated to the selection to a content management system. Continuing to308, the set-to box device may retrieve media content and an associatedaccess rule based on the input selection. In a particular illustrativeembodiment, the media content may be retrieved from a content source andthe associated access rule may be retrieved from an access rules source.In another particular illustrative embodiment, the media content and theassociated access rule may be retrieved from a content storage at amemory of the set-top box device, from another set-top box device, froma content management system, from an access rules source, or from anycombination thereof. Advancing to 310, the set-top box device mayprovide the media content to the display device based on the associatedaccess rule, which defines one or more restrictions for viewing of themedia content at the display device. The method terminates at 312.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a second particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content. At 402, a content managementsystem may provide a list of available media content to a destinationdevice. Moving to 404, the content management system may receive datarelated to a selection from the list of available media content, wherethe data includes an identifier related to the selected media contentand subscriber data associated with the destination device. Advancing to406, the content management system may identify a content source havingmedia content related to the data and an access rules source having anassociated access rule. At 408, the content management system sends aninstruction to the content source to provide the media content to thedestination device and an instruction to the access rules source toprovide the associated access rule to the destination device. In anillustrative embodiment, the associated access rule may define one ormore restrictions to limit access to the media content at thedestination device. The method terminates at 410.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, the subscriber data may includean access level (e.g., a subscriber access level) associated with thesubscriber's account, indicating a level of access to which thesubscriber is entitled. For example, a particular subscriber may be apremium subscriber having access to a number of media content downloadseach month. The accessibility level may be used to select an accessrule, which may be enforced by the content source or by an access ruleengine of the destination device to restrict viewing of the mediacontent at the destination device.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of a third particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content. At 502, a content managementsystem provides a list of available media content to a destinationdevice. Advancing to 504, the content management system receives datarelated to a selection from the list of available media content from thedestination device. Proceeding to 506, the content management systemretrieves the media content and an associated access rule. In aparticular illustrative embodiment, the content management system mayidentify a content source that has the media content and an access rulessource that has the associated access rule. The content managementsystem may then retrieve the media content from the content source andthe associated access rule from the access rules source.

At 508, the content management processes the associated access rule toidentify a portion of the media content. Advancing to 510, the contentmanagement system sends the identified portion of the media content tothe destination device. In a particular embodiment, the identifiedportion may include a selectable purchase option. Moving to 512, thecontent management system receives charge authorization data related toa selection of the selectable purchase option from the destinationdevice. At 514, the content management system charges an accountassociated with the destination device. Proceeding to 516, the contentmanagement system retrieves a second access rule associated with themedia content based on the charge authorization.

In a particular embodiment, the charge authorization may qualify asubscriber to view a particular media content selection one time,multiple times within a pre-defined time limit, or an unlimited numberof times. In an illustrative embodiment, the charge authorization mayqualify the subscriber at a destination device to view the selectedmedia content five times. If the selected media content is shared withanother device, a different access rule may apply to the other device,depending on the particular charge authorized at the other device.

The method advances to 518 and the content management system processesthe associated access rule to identify a second portion of the mediacontent. At 520, the content management system sends the second portionof the media content to the destination device. In an illustrativeexample, the second portion may be the balance of the media content,which together with the first portion forms the entire selected mediacontent. The method terminates at 522.

In general, the content management system may send a media contentselection in its entirety and an associated rule to the set-top boxdevice. Alternatively, the content management system may instruct acontent source to send the media content selection and an access rulessource to send the associated rule to the set-top box device. Theset-top box device may include an access rule engine that is executableby a processor of the set-top box device to enforce (apply) the accessrule to limit viewing of the media content at an associated displaydevice. In this example, blocks 508 and 518 in FIG. 5 may be omitted,and the content source may send the media content and the access rule tothe destination device at block 510. Additionally, in this example, thecontent management system may send a second access rule at block 520.The set-top box device may utilize the access rule engine apply theassociated access rule to limit viewing of the media content. Afterpayment is authorized, the set-top box device may utilize the accessrule engine to apply the second access rule to provide the media contentat the display device. The second access rule may restrict access to alimited number of showings or may limit access to a particular timeperiod, for example.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a fourth particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content. At 602, the content managementsystem provides a list of available media content to a destinationdevice, where the list of available media content includes media contentstored at one or more set-top box devices and media content stored atthe content management system. Moving to 604, the content managementsystem receives data related to a selection from the list of availablemedia content from the destination device. Advancing to 608, the contentmanagement system determines whether the selected media content isstored at a set-top box communicating with the network. If the selectedmedia is stored at a set-top box communicating with the network, themethod advances to 610, and the content management system sends arequest to the set-top box device to send a copy of the media content tothe destination device.

Advancing to 612, in a particular embodiment, the content managementsystem retrieves an access rule related to the media content. Proceedingto 614, the content management system sends the access rule to thedestination device. The access rule defines one or more restrictions forviewing the media content at the destination device. At 616, the contentmanagement system receives a notification from the set-top box devicerelated to sending the media content. Alternatively, the contentmanagement system may receive a notification from the destination devicerelated to receiving the media content. Moving to 618, the contentmanagement system records sharing information in an access log. At 620,the content management system credits an account associated with theset-top box device that sent the media content. Proceeding to 622, thecontent management system charges an account associated with thedestination device.

Returning to 608, if the media content is not available from a set-topbox device, the method advances to 624, and the content managementsystem retrieves the media content and an associated access rule. Theaccess rule defines one or more restrictions, executable at thedestination device, to restrict access to the media content. Moving to626, the content management system sends the media content and theassociated access rule to the destination device. Advancing to 628, thecontent management system receives a charge authorization related to themedia content from the destination device. Proceeding to 630, thecontent management system retrieves a second access rule associated withthe media content based on the charge authorization. In an illustrativeexample, the second access rule may allow the subscriber to access theselected media content for a pre-defined number of instances (e.g., twotimes). At 632, the content management system sends the second accessrule to the destination device. Advancing to 622, the content managementsystem charges an account associated with the subscriber. The methodterminates at 634.

In a particular illustrative embodiment, portions of the method shown inFIG. 6 may be performed simultaneously, in alternate sequences, or anycombination thereof. In another particular illustrative embodiment,portions of the method having one or more blocks removed may beperformed simultaneously, in alternate sequences, or any combinationthereof.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a fifth particular illustrative embodimentof a method of providing media content. At 702, the content managementsystem authorizes transmission of a first access rule to a destinationdevice, restricting access to selected media content at the destinationdevice. Advancing to 704, the content management system receives acharge authorization related to the selected media content from thedestination device. Proceeding to 706, the content management systemauthorizes transmission of a second access rule to the destinationdevice in response to receiving the charge authorization, where thesecond access rule is executable at the destination device to permitaccess to the selected media content. The method terminates at 708.

In conjunction with the configuration of structure described herein, thesystem and method disclosed provide media content to one or moredestination devices via a network. In a particular illustrativeembodiment, a content management system can provide a list of availablemedia content to a set-top box device. In a particular embodiment, thelist of available media content may include media content stored at thecontent management system and at one or more set-top box devices. Thecontent management system can receive data related to a selection fromthe list of available content from a destination device. In a particularembodiment, the content management system can retrieve the selectedmedia content and an associated access rule and can provide the mediacontent to the destination device based on the access rule. In anotherparticular embodiment, the content management system can identify acontent source and an access rules source and instruct the identifiedcontent source and address rules source to transmit the selected mediacontent and the associated access rule to the destination device. In aparticular embodiment, the access rule can define one or morerestrictions related to viewing of the media content at the destinationdevice. In another particular embodiment, the content management systemcan apply the access rule to identify a portion of the media contentrelated to the data and can provide the identified portion to thedestination device. In still another particular embodiment, the contentmanagement system can determine a storage location of media contentrelated to the data. If the storage location is a set-top box device,the content management system can request the set-top box device to sendthe media content to the destination device. In a particular embodiment,the content management system can send an access rule to the set-top boxdevice, where the access rule defines one or more restrictions to limitviewing of the media content at the destination device.

Referring to FIG. 8, an illustrative embodiment of a general computersystem is shown and is designated 800. The computer system 800 caninclude a set of instructions that can be executed to cause the computersystem 800 to perform any one or more of the methods or computer basedfunctions disclosed herein. The computer system 800 may operate as astandalone device or may be connected, e.g., using a network, to othercomputer systems or peripheral devices, such as a content managementsystem or set-top box devices, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-2.

In a networked deployment, the computer system may operate in thecapacity of a server or as a client user computer in a server-clientuser network environment, or as a peer computer system in a peer-to-peer(or distributed) network environment. The computer system 800 can alsobe implemented as or incorporated into various devices, such as apersonal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a set-top box (STB), a personaldigital assistant (PDA), a mobile device, a palmtop computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, a communications device, a wirelesstelephone, a land-line telephone, a control system, a camera, a scanner,a facsimile machine, a printer, a pager, a personal trusted device, aweb appliance, a network router, switch or bridge, or any other machinecapable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise)that specify actions to be taken by that machine. In a particularembodiment, the computer system 800 can be implemented using electronicdevices that provide voice, media or data communication. Further, whilea single computer system 800 is illustrated, the term “system” shallalso be taken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set, or multiple sets, of instructionsto perform one or more computer functions.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the computer system 800 may include aprocessor 802, e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphicsprocessing unit (GPU), or both. Moreover, the computer system 800 caninclude a main memory 804 and a static memory 806 that can communicatewith each other via a bus 808. As shown, the computer system 800 mayfurther include a media display unit 810, such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), an organic light emitting diode (OLED), a flat paneldisplay, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT).Additionally, the computer system 800 may include an input device 812,such as a keyboard, a cursor control device 814, such as a mouse, and aremote control device 815. The computer system 800 can also include adisk drive unit 816, a signal generation device 818, such as a speakeror remote control, and a network interface device 820.

In a particular embodiment, as depicted in FIG. 8, the disk drive unit816 may include a computer-readable medium 822 in which one or more setsof instructions 824, e.g. software, can be embedded. Further, theinstructions 824 may embody one or more of the methods or logic asdescribed herein. In a particular embodiment, the instructions 824 mayreside completely, or at least partially, within the main memory 804,the static memory 806, and/or within the processor 802 during executionby the computer system 800. The main memory 804 and the processor 802also may include computer-readable media.

In an alternative embodiment, dedicated hardware implementations, suchas application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arraysand other hardware devices, can be constructed to implement one or moreof the methods described herein. Applications that may include theapparatus and systems of various embodiments can broadly include avariety of electronic and computer systems. One or more embodimentsdescribed herein may implement functions using two or more specificinterconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and datasignals that can be communicated between and through the modules, or asportions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Accordingly, thepresent system encompasses software, firmware, and hardwareimplementations.

In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, themethods described herein may be implemented by software programsexecutable by a computer system. Further, in an exemplary, non-limitedembodiment, implementations can include distributed processing,component/object distributed processing, and parallel processing.Alternatively, virtual computer system processing can be constructed toimplement one or more of the methods or functionality as describedherein.

The present disclosure contemplates a non-transitory computer-readablemedium that includes instructions 824 or receives and executesinstructions 824 responsive to a propagated signal, so that a deviceconnected to a network 826 can communicate voice, media or data over thenetwork 826. Further, the instructions 824 may be transmitted orreceived over the network 826 via the network interface device 820.

While the non-transitory computer-readable medium is shown to be asingle medium, the term “non-transitory computer-readable medium”includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized ordistributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that storeone or more sets of instructions. The term “non-transitorycomputer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capableof storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution bya processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or moreof the methods or operations disclosed herein.

In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally,the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or opticalmedium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to capturecarrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one ormore of a non-transitory computer-readable medium and other equivalentsand successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored in anon-transitory manner.

Although the present specification describes components and functionsthat may be implemented in particular embodiments with reference toparticular standards and protocols, the disclosed embodiments are notlimited to such standards and protocols. For example, standards forInternet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP,UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Suchstandards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficientequivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly,replacement standards and protocols having the same or similar functionsas those disclosed herein are considered equivalents thereof.

The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended toprovide a general understanding of the structure of the variousembodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a completedescription of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systemsthat utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many otherembodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewingthe disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from thedisclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may notbe drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may beexaggerated, while other proportions may be reduced. Accordingly, thedisclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative ratherthan restrictive.

One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein,individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely forconvenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of thisapplication to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover,although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangementdesigned to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted forthe specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover anyand all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the description.

The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided with the understanding thatit will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of theclaims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, variousfeatures may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment forthe purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to beinterpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodimentsrequire more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather,as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may bedirected to less than all of the features of any of the disclosedembodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into theDetailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as definingseparately claimed subject matter.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall withinthe scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximum extent allowedby law, the scope of the present disclosure is to be determined by thebroadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and theirequivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoingdetailed description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: selecting, at a contentmanagement computer, a particular content source of a plurality ofcontent sources for media content associated with a media content itemrequested by a first media device, wherein the particular content sourceis selected based on a network topology of an access network; sending afirst instruction to the particular content source from the contentmanagement computer, wherein the first instruction causes the particularcontent source to send the media content to the first media device;after sending the first instruction, receiving, at the contentmanagement computer, a request for the media content item from a secondmedia device; and sending a second instruction from the contentmanagement computer to the first media device, wherein the secondinstruction causes the first media device to send the media content tothe second media device, and wherein the first media device is distinctfrom the second media device and distinct from the particular contentsource.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying thefirst media device as a content source of the plurality of contentsources after sending the first instruction.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising applying a credit to a subscriber account associatedwith the particular content source when the particular content source isanother media device responsive to sending the first instruction.
 4. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising applying a credit to a subscriberaccount associated with the first media device responsive to sending thesecond instruction.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sendinga first access rules request to an access rules source, wherein thefirst access rules request causes the access rules source to send anaccess rule for the media content to the first media device, the accessrule enabling the first media device to access a portion of the mediacontent.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, in response toreceipt of a charge authorization associated with the media content itemfrom the first media device, sending a second access rules request tothe access rules source, wherein the second access rules request causesthe access rules source to send a second access rule to the first mediadevice, the second access rule enabling the first media device to accessall of the media content.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprisingsending a first access rule request to an access rule source, whereinthe first access rules request causes the access rules source to send anaccess rule for the media content to the second media device, the accessrule enabling the second media device to access a portion of the mediacontent.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising, in response toreceipt of a charge authorization associated with the media content itemfrom the second media device, sending a second access rules request tothe access rules source, wherein the second access rules request causesthe access rules source to send a second access rule to the second mediadevice, the second access rule enabling the second media device toaccess all of the media content.
 9. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising selecting the first media device to send the secondinstruction based on the network topology, wherein the selecting thefirst media device based on the network topology comprises choosing fromthe plurality of content sources based on an available bandwidth, anetwork capacity, load balancing, a logical proximity of the first mediadevice to the second media device, a physical proximity of the firstmedia device to the second media device, or a combination thereof. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting the particular contentsource based on the network topology of the access network compriseschoosing from the plurality of content sources based on an availablebandwidth, a network capacity, load balancing, a logical proximity ofthe particular content source to the first media device, a physicalproximity of the particular content source to the first media device, ora combination thereof.
 11. A system comprising: a processor; a memoryaccessible to the processor, wherein the memory includes instructionsexecutable by the processor to perform operations, the operationsincluding: selecting a particular content source of a plurality ofcontent sources for media content associated with a media content itemrequested by a first media device, wherein the particular content sourceis selected based on a network topology of an access network; sending afirst instruction to the particular content source, wherein the firstinstruction causes the particular content source to send the mediacontent to the first media device; after sending the first instruction,receiving a request for the media content item from a second mediadevice; and sending a second instruction to the first media device,wherein the second instruction causes the first media device to send themedia content to the second media device, and wherein the first mediadevice is distinct from the second media device and distinct from theparticular content source.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein theoperations further include providing a list of available media contentto the first media device, the list including identification of themedia content item.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the operationsfurther comprise sending a first access rules request to an access rulessource, wherein the first access rules request causes the access rulessource to send an access rule for the media content item to the firstmedia device.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the access rulessource comprises an access rules database, an access rules server,another media device, or a combination thereof.
 15. The system of claim11, wherein the media content comprises the media content item and atrailer for the media content item.
 16. A computer-readable computerdevice storing instructions, that when executed by a processor, causethe processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:selecting a particular content source of a plurality of content sourcesfor media content associated with a media content item requested by afirst media device, wherein the particular content source is identifiedbased on a network topology of an access network; sending a firstinstruction to the particular content source, wherein the firstinstruction causes the particular content source to send the mediacontent to the first media device; after sending the first instruction,receiving a request for the media content item from a second mediadevice; and sending a second instruction to the first media device,wherein the second instruction causes the first media device to send themedia content to the second media device, and wherein the first mediadevice is distinct from the second media device and distinct from theparticular content source.
 17. The computer-readable computer device ofclaim 16, wherein the operations further comprise charging an accountassociated with the first media device for download of the media contentresponsive to sending the first instruction.
 18. The computer-readablecomputer device of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprisecharging an account associated with the second media device for downloadof the media content responsive to the sending the second instruction.19. The computer-readable computer device of claim 16, wherein theparticular content source comprises another media device.
 20. Thecomputer-readable computer device of claim 16, wherein the particularcontent source comprises a content server of a content provider.